Iran Reopens Hormuz Strait, Balances US Staying Blockade

JAKARTA - Iran has reimposed restrictions on ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz in response to the continued blockade of US naval vessels to and from ports in Iran.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran, following the previous agreement reached in good faith negotiations, agrees to regulate the traffic of a number of oil and commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz," said spokesman for the Khatam al-Anbiya Military Command Headquarters, Ebrahim Zolfaqari, reported by Iran's Fars news agency, Saturday, April 18, quoted from Al Jazeera.

Iran announced that it had opened the world's vital energy route in the Strait of Hormuz during a ceasefire in Lebanon. This was first known in the social media post of Iranian Foreign Minister (Menlu) Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Friday evening, April 17 WIB.

However, since then, US President Donald Trump has remained adamant in ordering the US navy to continue to blockade ships affiliated with or from and to Iranian ports.

Trump still threatened to cut off one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supplies even though Iran had attacked the Strait of Hormuz.

"However, unfortunately, America, with a history of repeatedly breaking promises, continues to engage in maritime robbery and piracy under the guise of what is called a blockade. For this reason, the strategic Strait of Hormuz is under the strict management and control of the Iranian Armed Forces," continued Zolfaqari.

"This strategic waterway is under the strict management and control of the armed forces. As long as the United States does not end the full freedom of movement of ships from Iran to their destinations and back, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will remain under strict control and will remain as before," he said.